Description

"How Forests Think" is a book by anthropologist Eduardo Kohn, published in 2013. The book offers a groundbreaking exploration of the intersections between anthropology, ecology, and philosophy, challenging conventional understandings of what it means to be human and what it means to think. In "How Forests Think," Kohn draws on his fieldwork with the Runa people of the Ecuadorian Amazon to explore the ways in which humans and non-human entities, such as plants, animals, and landscapes, engage in forms of cognition and communication. He suggests that thinking is not limited to humans but is a distributed and multispecies phenomenon that permeates the natural world. The title of the book is metaphorical, suggesting that forests, as complex ecosystems, exhibit forms of cognition and agency that can be understood through an anthropological lens. Kohn argues that forests are not passive objects but active participants in the world, shaping and being shaped by human and non-human interactions. One of the key concepts in "How Forests Think" is semiosis, the process of signification and meaning-making. Kohn suggests that both humans and non-human entities engage in semiotic processes, interpreting and responding to signs and symbols in their environments. He explores the ways in which different species communicate and collaborate, challenging anthropocentric views of language and cognition. Kohn's approach to anthropology is deeply influenced by the philosophy of phenomenology and semiotics, as well as by recent developments in ecological and multispecies anthropology. He emphasizes the importance of empathy, humility, and openness to other ways of knowing and being, both within and beyond the human realm. Overall, "How Forests Think" offers a profound and thought-provoking exploration of the interconnectedness of life and the ways in which different species co-create meaning and experience in the world. Kohn's interdisciplinary approach challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about cognition, communication, and the boundaries between humans and nature.